Novi sublingviformni vulvarni zalistak oblića Haemonchus sp. u prirodno invadiranih domaćih preživača zaklanih u klaonici Béja u sjevernom Tunisu.

The present study was conducted to determine the type of vulvar morphology in female Haemonchus worms collected from the abomasa of sheep, goats and cattle slaughtered for human consumption in Béja Abattoir in Tunisia with a Mediterranean type of climate. For the purpose, a total of 2450 female Haemonchus worms from abomasa of 363 sheep, 258 goats and 152 cattle were thoroughly examined for the types of their vulvar flap. Of the total 143 female Haemonchus worms from cattle 21.5% linguiform, 41.8% knobbed and 3.4% smooth vulvar flap types were recorded. Out of the total 645 female Haemonchus worms from abomasa of sheep, 42.5% linguiform, 36.3% knobbed and 21.2% smooth vulvar morph types were identified. In goats a total of 1662 female worms were differentiated into 27.7% linguiform, 65.8% knobbed and 6.4% smooth vulvar morph types. Further subclassification of 43 linguiform vulvar flap female Haemonchus worms from cattle revealed an overall proportion of 11.5% LA type, 26.3% LB type, 17.1% LC type, 0.8% LD type and 11.0% LI linguiform subtypes. Likewise, from sheep, of the total of 327 linguiform vulvar flap female worms, 31.6% LA type, 18% LB type, 26.3% LC type, 3.9% LD type and 3.5% LI linguiform subtypes were differentiated. From goats, of the total of 461 linguiform vulvar flap female worms, 48% LA type, 13.8% LB type, 21.6% LC type, 4.4% LD type and 12.3% LI linguiform subtypes were detected. The LB sublinguiform type had the highest overall proportion in cattle, whereas the LA sub linguiform type was the most predominant in both sheep and goats. An interesting finding of the current study is the documentation of a new type of sublinguiform vulvar flap type in female Haemonchus worms for the first time, from the Mediterranean type of climate in Tunisia. To the best of our knowledge this is the first report of new vulvar morphology in female Haemonchus worms, designated as LD sublinguiform vulvar flap with three cuticular inflations. Further detailed studies are urgently needed on the prevalence, morphological, molecular and genetic characterization of Haemonchus spp. with different vulvar flap types in different agro-ecologies, animal species and breeds, and management systems in Tunisia and other countries.Istraživanje je poduzeto kako bi se odredio morfološki tip ženki oblića roda Haemonchus sakupljenih iz sirišta ovaca, koza i goveda zaklanih u klaonici Béja na području Tunisa s mediteranskom klimom. Ukupno je bilo izdvojeno 2450 ženki oblića roda Haemonchus iz sirišta 363 ovce, 258 koza i 152 goveda. Nakon izdvajanja određivane su razlike u izgledu vulvarnog zaliska. Od ukupno 143 ženke izdvojene iz sirišta goveda 21,5% je imalo lingviformni tip zalistaka, 41,8% zalistak s izbočinom dok je samo 3,4% imalo glatke zaliske. Među oblićima (645) izdvojenima iz ovaca ustanovljeno je 42,5% s lingviformnim zaliskom, 36,3% sa zaliskom s izbočinom i 21,2% oblića s glatkim zaliskom. Mikroskopskim pregledom 1662 ženke izdvojene iz koza u njih 27,7% ustanovljeni su lingviformni zalisci, u 65,8% zalisci s izbočinom te u 6,4% glatki zalisci. Daljnjim svrstavanjem 43 ženke s lingviformnim zaliscima podrijetlom iz goveda pokazalo se da 11,5% pripada LA podtipu, 26,3% LB podtipu, 17,1% LC podtipu, 0,8% LD podtipu i 11,0% LI podtipu. Među 325 oblića s lingviformnim zaliscima izdvojenih iz ovaca 31,6 % je bilo LA podtipa, 18% LB podtipa, 26,3% LC podtipa, 3,9% LD podtipa i 3,5% LI podtipa. Među 461 oblićem s lingviformnim zaliscima podrijetlom iz koza 48% bilo je LA tipa, 13,8% LB tipa, 21,6% LC tipa, 4,4% LD tipa i 12,3% LI podtipa. LB tip zaliska bio je najučestaliji u oblića izdvojenih iz goveda dok je LA bio najčešći tip zaliska u oblića izdvojenih iz ovaca i koza. Ovo je prvi nalaz novog tipa sublingviformnih vulvarnih zalistaka u ženki oblića roda Haemonchus na području Tunisa s mediteranskom klimom. Taj zanimljiv novi nalaz sublinguiformnog vulvarnog zaliska s tri kutikularna udubljenja nazvan je LD tip

Effect of the infection with the nematode <i>Haemonchus contortus</i> (Strongylida: Trichostrongylidae) on the haematological, biochemical, clinical and reproductive traits in rams

This study aimed to investigate the effect of Haemonchus contortus infection on rams’ haematological, biochemical and clinical parameters and reproductive performances. A total number of 12 Barbarine rams (control and infected) were included in the experiment. The infected group received 30 000 H. contortus third-stage larvae orally. Each ram’s ejaculate was immediately evaluated for volume, sperm cell concentration and mortality rate. At the end of the experiment (day 82 post-infection), which lasted 89 days, serial blood samples were collected in order to assess plasma testosterone and luteinising hormone (LH) concentrations. There was an effect of time, infection and their interaction on haematological parameters (p < 0.001). In infected rams, haematocrit, red blood cell count and haemoglobin started to decrease from 21 days post-infection. There was an effect of time and infection for albumin. For total protein, only infection had a statistically significant effect. For glucose, only time had a statistically significant effect. Concentrations were significantly lower in infected rams compared to control animals. A significant effect of infection and time on sperm concentrations and sperm mortality was observed. The effect of infection appears in time for sperm concentrations at days 69 and 76 post-infection. Sperm mortality rate was significantly higher in infected animals at day 46 post-infection when compared to control group (p < 0.05). Finally, plasma testosterone traits (average concentration, cumulated levels during the sampling period and pulse frequency) were depressed in infected rams when compared to control counterparts; none of these endocrine traits were affected for plasma LH